Not to be a smart a$$ but who knew, wild animals in the woods? haha

Better get that Fehey guy to bust a cap in its ass

I'm certainly glad that the city of Bangor is protecting the Owls that are in their own native habitat.

It reminds me of the night I drove a bunch of female and male birdwatchers out of the Ramble section of Central Park because they were disturbing a recently arrived Owl who was just trying to look for his/her dinner.

I didn't care that Central Park Ramble is an Audubon paid for and protected area.

They all put their heads down and left with their imaginary tails between their legs.

They were all members of the Audubon Society and they knew better.

I feed the Raccoons that showed up in the past ten years but, now New York City is encouraging Hawks to nest on the roof ledges of the tall nearby buildings, and I found out the other night that they are killing and eating the squirrels.

Life is one continuous on going circle to survive.

Cute picture!

Mainelyme

This is simply nature at it's finest. Under no circumstances should there be any kind of corrective measures for what is obviously natural behavior. If anyone is to be taking advantage of this stretch of forest during the evening, just be aware of what might take place and accept it. We should be proud and honored that these members of our wild society have taken residency in Bangor. I wish our wild residents well.

I didn't know the owls laid eggs in the winter, now it makes since. Last year while snowmobiling I was going through an area where I had seen an owl earlier when I saw it up in a tree. I was getting nearer when suddenly it swooped right towards my face with outstretched talons. I had to duck to avoid it, looked back and it had turned around for another try, so I goosed the gas (sorry bad pun) and got out of there watching my mirror the whole time. As spon as I got a decent distance away it turned and went back to it's tree. I talked to another guy that said it happened to him too in the same spot, must have been a nest there. I laugh about it now but even with a helmet and face shield it was startling to have it come down with those big old talons pointing at me! I hope people see this and leave them alone to tend their nest, hopefully some bonehead doesn't get any ideas and cause problems.

Mainelyme:

Interesting, as always!

I saw a special on PBS about those Hawks on the ledges of apt. bldgs in NYC.

Quite a lot of bird watchers in Central Park too.

Did you know (probably) there are more species of birds in Central Park than just about anywhere else??

chersully2000

Central Park is on a direct flight path for north-south migrating birds.

Mainelyme

There is an excellent book, called "One Mans Owl" about a scientist, who had/has a cabin somewhere in Maine, and while studying the Great horned Owls, and other wildlife in the area, found a nest that had been downed in the previous nights snow storm. Hes saw a pair of little legs sticking out of the snow, and pulled out a baby Horned Owl, which he raised, and eventually reintroduced to the wild. The Owl's name was Bubo, and it is a charming story and a very interesting one about this relationship between a man and a Maine Owl. Another touching story about the raising of a bob white quail, on Cape Cod, in the 60's is called "That Quail Robert" one of my fav. books! Let's hope that everyone respects those Owls, as it is surely a privaledge for us to have them near us!

Last winter was an apparently tough one for great horned owls. There were many accounts of them starving and being hit by cars while in the roads hunting food. So, I say let's give 'em a break and stay away. a couple years ago I saw two hassling my cat, but it was in the fall. They were probably after the same rodent.

They're great practice in advance of spring skeet season!

David889327

You want to be careful that you don't get plugged, too!

Mainelyme

Will these owls attack and eat other birds? If so, that would explain the remains of a bird (mainly just feathers) I saw on the Quinn Trail a few weeks ago. There were no other tracks around this area to indicate something from the ground had eaten it. I used to date a falconer so I know what it looks like when a bird has attacked/eaten another bird. If my memory serves me right, the feathers leven ooked like that of a hawk.

While we're on the subject of wildlife...I am a nature lover and I could sit for hours and study the habits and behaviors of animals. Recently, to my amazement, I've had the opportunity to see coyotes in my backyard. Once throughout the day last Sunday and once at 10 p.m. last Wednesday. I enjoy seeing them, as I know it's rare, especially during the day. But it bothers me that I'm seeing them right in my backyard, as I live in a very populated area on Stillwater Ave. in Bangor. There are children that play in the area and small pets, as well. I called IF&W and the woman I spoke to pretty much blew me off simply stating, "they're here", as if to say there's not much we can do about it. I wonder, has anyone else in the area seen coyotes?

I'll be careful, Mainelyme!

BTW, have you heard about Michael Jackson's recent shopping trip to K-Mart? He'd heard that boys' pants were half-off!

David889327

Boy's pants are half off all over the country.

Just as ours were back in the low rise flared bottomed early seventies.

Don't you keep up with the latest fashions?

There's more to shoot in life than just skeets!

Mainelyme

Some of these comments arent even related to the story. Do u people read or just post comments for the fun of it??? Get on MySpace if that is what u r looking for. LOL

When owls are hungry or protecting "their" property, beware! True Story....my husband was reading in bed by a window some years ago...I was out in the front of the house when I heard a crash. I asked if he knew what it was and didn't but it was very close! We thought that the ice had fallen. Well, about 15 min. later, it hit again. We went out to investigate. In the newly fallen snow you could see a beautiful impression of an owl. That owl had hit the window behind him....twice!!! Good thing there was a screen still on or he would have broken through. The screen prevented a lot of damage to my husband, the house, and the hungry owl. We never found any more sign upon daylight. He must have given up his thought of capturing that "animal in the window".

Last year we heard them courting...it will wake you up out of a dead sleep. We have great respect for all wild things and give them space.

Him's just too cute for words!

Mainelyme

Mainelyme, Back away from the keyboard, go outside and get some fresh air.

Maurice_Fleckman

I'm going over to the park to feed the Raccoons.

The animals and birds aren't agressive the people are!

Mainelyme

It amazes me that I've lived in Maine my entire life and have never seen an owl. I've spent a lot of hours doing nature photography around the state, but the owls keep eluding me. Not that I want to suddenly see talons in my face, either LOL

he is saying stay out of 'my peaceful serene setting, go back to what YOU created for yourselves!!! " and redo it ?

I live along the Canadian border, and have photographed a great horned owl, and some other types, seen as I was driving along the road. Since I live in such an isolated area, I have had to do a lot of driving, which has caused me to see more wildlife than normal, I suppose. A lady in her 80s saw 7 moose gathered in a field, and she was amazed to see that, after a long life lived in this area.

I think that wild animals are very aware of people, their smells, the sound they make, and they are very adept at avoiding us. Also, people are usually traveling through, or concentrating on something other than hunting for food, or avoiding becoming food, which is the main motivation for most of our wild cousins. Plus, owls live overhead, but our eyes are set to look outwards, but not up in to the air.

I used to let my cats wander, until I lost a couple to predators, but I can only imagine the type and amount of wild animals they saw, as they were busy, out watching, and listening, 24 hours a day.

Maurice, I agree with you. Mainelyme needs to take a break, drink a beer, and take a nap.

I don't know why, but a human being attacked by a ticked off bird cracks me up!!! This is a riot.

Looks like my 6th grade teacher.

You two guys are jealous because you're not just too cute for words.

Get yourself some great big piercing green eyes and a feathered cap and try out for the part again!

Mainelyme

The only thing that scares me about the city forest is the amount of dog poop that is all over the walkways because dog owners are too selfish to clean it up.

I love it when a 4 pound bird causes a full grown man to scream and wave his ski poles. :-).

Mainelyme: You are too funny!

fledgeling:

Thanks for sharing about those books....they sound interesting.

fishaholic:

Wow...coyotes near a populated area on Stillwater Ave? That very busy area!! Interesting...

I have a friend who lives on outer Essex St and she and her husband can hear the coyotes at night, she says, from the woods surrounding where they live.

Kind of like the alligators in Fla, I guess. Their habitats are being encroached on more and more; they then get confused and wander into areas they would not ordinarily.

By the way......fishaholic is a great name!!!!

RogerNamVet:

I sure think I will keep my 2 cats inside; but then, I live in the city, where there are the hazards of the road,etc.

seacoast:

I hope you sometime come across the elusive owls. I also do some nature photography.....my favorite.

Good luck with that.

JudySherman:

I wish there were more people like you and your husband regarding our wildlife.

Mainelyme takes care of the raccoons, squirrels, birds in Central Park.

Mainesurvivor:

I do too.

If I had to live in a place named after Mr. Foul Mouth (Roland Perry) I'd be in a bad mood too.

Maybe the Owl got sick of moving its home everytime a Developer build a condo in it home, Looks like its sicking up for it's self .. good for the owl..

When owls go bad....next on fox.

These owls must be stopped NOW!! I have a 1/8th acre free range organic dairy ferrett ranch.

Owls taste like chicken; they're not as gamey as seagulls.

Spotted owl is quite tasty when prepared correctly in the Pacific Northwest.

Try them with a little Tobasco. Um..um good!

Heres a very tasty owl dish:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-specials/cretan-dakos-koukouvagia-owl-recipe/index.html

John Holyoke is my hero! When I saw the headline I was elated that he was poking fun at the humans who were invading the owls space. (Tho I must say I was impressed with the participants being realistic about where they were, who's neighborhood it was and what time they were there!) But it is true. City Forest is City Forest. FOREST, good for the owl in finding a safe haven for his/her family! And John - I loved the lesson about the owl and its habits. Once again you have hit a home run!

Whooo?

Don't get wiise.

Yooo!

Mainelyme

Ladyotrout, a copy editor writes the headline, not the reporter.

Maurice - have you ever tried them with wild rice stuffing? Delish! A dry merlot is also very nice. I learned it from the Indians. A side of beaver also goes well.

Animals!

Mainelyme

Owls must eat pidgeons because people in Manhattan put lines of iron owls on their balconies to keep the pidgeons away.

A life long friend and I were talking Bangor politics on the cell phone last night.

I told him that owls should be placed on the trees at the juncture of Harlow and Park Street Hill so they can dive bomb the bureaucrats as they enter and exit Bangor City Hall.

Perley J. Thibodeau

Mainelyme

I cant believe anyone would eat an owl. I am all for the owls. For goodness sake can't we think of the wildlife first. And to bad for the ferrett farm you better bring them in at night and you shouldn't have any problem. Go get them Great Horned Owls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mainelyme:

You sure think of everything.

With your imagination, I can see why you would be writing screenplays,etc.!

I am all for the owls too.

The GHO's are doing what any good parent would do and that is to protect their territory, nest and offspring... After all, humans are the most dangerous predator on the face of the earth.

Not all owls nest in the winter...just the Great Horned owls because their babes need a lot of hang time with the parents to learn what to do before they are forced out of the territory in late fall when the parents ready themselves for another breeding cycle. Even with that parental guidance, there is about an 80% mortaility rate with first year raptors. This is natural selection at it's finest. Only the strongest and most clever survive coming into fall and winter. Their metabolic rate increases to keep them warm, so they must eat more food, except the prey base is lower in the cold months. Two dynamics converging, and only the strongest make it through.

My "Sammy" was a product of nest failure and the Good Samaritans hand-fed him for a couple of weeks, accidentally imprinting him before turning him over to me, so I had him added to my educational permit and we have been together 19 years. He is an awesome teacher on the importance of things wild.

Great Horned owls will eat pigeons, but I bet what you came up on was the aftermath of an accipiter attack of either a Cooper's Hawk or a Sharp-shinned hawk, whose body shape is conducive to catching birds...(short wings, long tail like a rudder)

And the Red-tailed hawks living in Central Park are named Pale Male and Lola. Google those names and you will find all sorts of interesting stores and photographs....m. www.hawktalk.org

Owls aren't as gamey as seagulls, when prepared properly.

Pigeons aren't bad either - you just need to boil them thoroly to kill the parisites.

Did anyone notice WLBZ had this story repurposed on their website yesterday?

A bit late channel 2...BDN had a great article out the morning before.

Monteen

I remember an assembly in the stage auditorium of Garland Street Junior High School back in 54 or 55.

The person on stage had a big owl and was giving a lecture on it.

The bird was sitting on a small pile of newspapers and wet them during the talk.

The narrator complimented the audiences of combined classes for having been mature enough not to have laughed or giggled at the incident that was only a part of nature. She said all the other classes across the street acted much more imaturely when they saw that happen.

Apparently there are no grownups who were students at Garland Street that day who are posting here on this thread.

Some of the ones who are make it impossible to even believe they know how to read or write on a computer and to press send.

Mainelyme

Mainelyme, you are truly showing your age. I'm almost 50 years old (born in '60) so you must be pushing 70.

I'm not certain why this is an issue, because aren't these city forests closed after dark? I know the University Forest is closed from sundown to sunrise.

Mainelyme:

They should be half as sharp of mind as you when they get "older."!!!

matt29

Whoooooooo?

Mainelyme

Like all city parks, City Forest is closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The attacks are actually happening early in the evening.

I don't think it's a case of an owl protecting a nest. I think it's simply a case of mistaken identity. The great horned owls I have heard out there sounded as though they were somewhere in the Walden-Parke Preserve. I found the lower jaw bone appearing to have belonged to a red squirrel on East Trail last month, hanging in a tree. There was bird scat on the ground below. Last summer I watched a great horned owl hunt just off the Veazie Railroad bed near the Northeast Penjajawoc Preserve. I have video and audio in the News section of http://cityforest.bangorinfo.com.

SharonFaith:

Thanks for the info on the owls. I am going to go and read it.

Somehow, that article seems to ring a bell (2000).

Maybe someone else will recall it.

Mainelyme:

Do you recall that article in the BDN about the cat and the owl?

chersully2000

No.

One of the guys in the park has blamed the Hawks for killing the Squirels and now someone says that Owls kill them and hang them on a tree limb.

I found one gutted on a limb one night ten years or so ago and told the detective division that one of the park goers was doing it.

Just goes to show there's something new to learn everyday.

You all can add me to the list if you like. I was walking my dog about 2 weeks ago and had a set of headphones on so I was rather oblivious until it felt like someone dropped a book on my head. I was wearing a beanie and a vinyl hood. Still managed to draw blood, leave a bruise and rid me of a bit of my hair on the back of my head. I was on the main loop when it happened, didn't see the bird and didn't know what to think of it until I saw this.

Hi there,

I'm a resident of Orange City, Florida (about 20 minutes south of Daytona Beach) and I just got struck twice by an owl while I was out jogging. It followed me even though I ran at it several times shouting. Finally, I ran at it hollering as it was flying at me for a third strike and it veered off and disappeared (by then I finally had it convinced I was a nut). It didn't injure me, just scrabbled my hair out of the bun I had it pinned up in and startled the heck out of me. I'm in a housing project surrounded by a lot of wooded areas, lots of 'coons and 'possums trotting around.

What gets me is I''ve been reading articles, and the only attacks I can find are in Canada, Washington and Maine, northern areas--am I the only one in the south playing chicken with owls (sorry)?

Airbrenda